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OC History Roundup (an excellent Orange County history blog), posted some pictures of the Crystal Cathedral’s Orange Drive-In artifact collection. Among the items on display are a pair of Koropp window speakers and a piece of the snack bar rooftop.    .   For those wondering why the Crystal Cathedral would hold on to drive-in memorabilia; the church’s [...]

Today’s picture is a bit of a mystery theatre. This architectural rendering comes from the 1920 Los Angeles  Times, announcing a “picture playhouse” to be erected in Anaheim. The only other information provided was the builder, Head & Ingram, and the architect, E.J. Borgmeyer.    .   . Edward J. Borgmeyer was a prominent architect in the Los [...]

Drama, inaction, and politics continue to plague San Clemente’s Miramar Theatre. This past week, the city notified the long dormant venue’s current owner that he was in violation of city codes, due to a host of ongoing maintenance shortcommings. Naturally, this resulted in a round of finger pointing between the city and current owner, Marc Spizzurri; [...]

When a cinema closes, there is rarely an official effort made to preserve anything that doesn’t have a resale value. In recent decades, departing operators have even made a habit of damaging facilities and fixtures, to hinder any future use by competition. However, the former Edwards Huntington Cinema stands as a rare example of an operator [...]

This past Saturday, Irvine’s Woodbridge Theatre held a celebration in recognition of the venue’s 30th anniversary. Roughly 2,400 people turned out for a day of giveaways, contests, and festivities. .                .           .   In addition to being Irvine’s first theatre, the Woodbridge currently stands as Orange County’s seventh oldest operating cinema; an [...]

Back on February 8, 1960, E.M. Stuart’s ploy to attract visitors to a struggling commercial district of Los Angeles was launched. Fifty years and 2,400 stars later, the two and a half mile Hollywood Walk of Fame stands as one of southern California’s biggest tourist attractions. .   Thirty years ago today, Mann Theatres prepared to open [...]

Seems my lack of faith in the long dormant Brea Plaza 5 was unwarranted. Passing by the Brea Town Center this afternoon, I noticed “Brea Plaza Cinemas 5″ listed as one of the future tenants for the soon to be remodeled center. I’ll post more information as it becomes available. For now, a pleasant turn [...]

A ”white Christmas” in Anaheim? Well, about as close as the area has come to having one. .   The photo above was taken on December 8, 1926, when Northern Orange County was hit by an ultra rare “snowstorm”. Amid this “winter wonderland” is the Fox Anaheim (then known as the California Theatre), which was located on West Central Street (present day Lincoln [...]

Today’s picture is of the concession stand at Newport Beach’s Lido Theatre, circa 1960.   Opened in October of 1939, the Lido has managed to stay in near continuous operation for seventy years (a near miracle in Orange County) and stands as one of the county’s only remaining “golden era” cinemas. Fortunately, the Lido has [...]

This week, in 1970, Nation General opened the South Coast Plaza 2 (later to become known as the South Coast Plaza 3), to compliment the neighboring South Coast Plaza Cinema. Among the opening week’s events was a charity champagne reception and screening of the John Wayne western “Rio Lobo”. Being a resident of near bye Newport Beach, Mr. Wayne [...]